Liquid treatment



Julie 5; 1945. J. J. FELsr-:CKER

LIQUID TREATMENT Filed July 6, 1942 2 sheets-sheet 1l /N VE NTLOR JOHN J F ELsEcKER,

BY F D PM/P-f J. J. FELSECKER LIQUID TREATMENT Filed July e, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOHN J, F ELsEcKER A v Patented June5, l1945 John J. Felsecker, Calumet City, lll., assigner-to Graver Tank & Mfg. Co., lne., a corporation of Delaware 'Application July s, 1942, serial No. 449,968

(o1. zio- 16) `4 claims.

This invention relates to liquid treatment and particularly to the removal of suspended, co1- loidal, or dissolved solids from liquids by chemical and physical treatment, with clarification by sludge filtration and sedimentation. The softening of water by an improved lime-soda process is.

typical for many applications of the invention, and special reference will be had to this applicaftion, which illustrates the invention but is not intended to limit the same.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved method and apparatus capable of purifying a liquid of solids contained and formed therein, where some of ,saidsolids, which are present at certain points, are more settleable than others.

Another object is to provide filtration of the liquid being treated through some of said solids, which are kept in suspension, forming a sludge blanket, this sludge blanket being initially built i up from the bottom of the tank, and being so disposed in normal operation as to merge with a sublacent zone of solids settled from the liquid, provision being made, however, so that the flow wherein the sludge filtration occurs may not disturb the settled solids.

Another object is to provide ilow guiding means functionally separating the blanket from the settled solids but allowing gravitational communication of solids and suwrnatant liquid between the sludge blanket and the bottom sediment zone.

Another object is to cause a mixture of liquid and solids to dow as a distributing ow through a liquid body, spaced above the bottom and below the top of the liquid body, to control or adjust the agitative eect oi the solids distributing flow on solids present above and below the same so as to gating the iluid flows, suitable passages and openings for the circulating cws, means for adjusting the distance or relationship between the lsolids distributing flow and adjacent iluld bodies, and

other necessary or desirable equipment.

Still other objects and advantages may appear on consideration of this disclosure.

In the drawings,v A Figure l is a cross-sectional elevation paratus embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a diagram oiliquid flows in the apparatus of Figures l and 2.

Figure i is a cross-sectional elevation of modiof apllied apparatus embodying `this invention.

Figure 5 is a similar view of a further modification ci the apparatus shown in Figure i.

Sii

suspend small and medium particles above thel same and to settle large particles below the same, and to clarify the liquid by sludge filtration in a flow upwardly branching of! from the distributing now, and by sedimentation of solids below the y distributing roW.

According to a particular feature I may Vrecirculate parts of said distributing iiow into the mixture to be introduced, whereby lchanges in the flow rate o! the mixture may be compensated for, the distribution ot liquid and solids in the solids blanket may be improved, precipitation and ilocculation promoted by sludge recirculation,

and other advantages obtained.

'rae tank in receives the newly mtredueed here 4 water, previously dosed with any required softening and coagulating chemicals or other precipitants, through an inlet conduit Il which terminates in a zone it forming part of the tank and sewing for primary precipitating treatment. The tank is round in plan view and the primary precipitation zone il is ineilect an annular well or channel' in the outer part ol this tank. The inlet conduit discharges into this primary annular well through one or more tangential openings I3 so that the liquid horizontally circulates through the primary well, whereby it is distributed over the whole area of the primary well; and simultaneously subjected to gentle agitation, conducive to noccuiation The general direction of the hows is indicated by arrows, in Figure l.

The primary well l2 is formed by the outer, peripheral wall Il of the tank and an inner, annular wall or barile I6, whichv is concentric with the tank. 'I'his inner, annular wall may be suspended from beams i1 spanning the tank. It

reaches from `the top ofthe tank downward to Other objects are to provide favorablecondi'- tions for the sludge blanket and other operative zones and parts of the liquid, as well as suitable means foreontrolling, guiding,l stilling, or segrea point spaced above the bottom Il oi the tank. On the inside o! the inner annular wall I6, and adjacent to its top, there is-an annular overilow weir I8 providing for the discharge of softened `and clarified water into a circular launder I 8 discharging through an eilluent conduit 20. The welr determines the lowest point to which the liquid level in the tank can fall vin operation, except when the tank is drained for clesnout or repair. An upper limit for the liquid level ln y the'tank maybe established by a float valve 2i in the inlet conduit Il,l in well-known manner.

'lfiie water received through the inlet I3 may carry ilocculent material, and fiocs will be precipitated as the water flows through the tank. The process carried out in this tank is of the 4 type wherein small and medium sized fiocs are carried along by the liquid ow, while large solids or flocs settle to thetank bottom I4. 'Ihis settling of ilocs may start in the primary well I2, and ocs may settle on the bottom below that well. This bottom is substantially flat, espev cially in large tanks. Portions of the settled solids are continuously picked up and laterally re- -moved by scrapers 22, which slowly rotate over the bottom I4, being driven by a motor 23 and speed reducer 24, through a central vertical shaft 25. The solids removed by the Scrapers are received in a central sump 26 from which they are ultimately withdrawn, lin well-known manner, through a conduit 21.

The water carrying all the ilocs except the largest, which have settled out in the primary' well I2, spirals horizontally inward into and through the distribution zone 28, passing first below the lower edge 29 of the annular wall I6 and finally upward, through the sludge ltration zone 33. The distribution zone 28 is located in the space inside of the wall I6 at an elevation adjacent to that of the lower edge 29'of said wall, while the sludge iiltration zone 30 extends upwardly from this distribution zone, inside lof the wall I6. The rotation of the liquid continues in theI distribution zone. It is an aid toflocculation. It also serves to freely distribute liquid and solids over the tank area. Therefore this rotation may be allowedto continue at least in a part of the upward ilow through the sludge illtration zone 30. However, ultimately this rotation may be stilled by vertical radial bailles 3I which extend inward from the wall I6'. Thereupon, the further upward flow is substantiallyv straightlined and vertical. y

A sludge filter or blanket is built up in the upward flow through the central zone 30. The treatment of the Water is completed in this sludge lter. Treated water emerges from the sludge lter and overflows over the Weir I8. The solids or flocs agglomerate, and are ultimately removed by settling down through the sludge illtration and distribution zones 30 and 28 into a quiescent sediment zone 32 which extends downwardly from the distribution zone 28 to the bottom ofv thetank.

Quiescent conditions are maintained in vthis sediment zone 32, and not allowed to be disturbed by the spiralling, distributing flow in the superposed distribution zone 28, by means of a liquid guiding baille member 33 inwardly extendl ing from the'tank wall'I5 at an elevation adjacent to, and slightly below, the lower edge 29 of the inner annular wall I6,- and above the tank bottom I4. This baille causes the spiralling now to be'deilected inwardly, adjacent to the lower edge 29, so that it may not disturb the sediment deposited on the tank bottom I4. Of course an outer part of this baille may merge into the wall inclined, so that they may allow the sliding oi byv gravityof conglomerates of settling flocs. This sliding off is also promoted by the aforementioned spiral flow above the baiiles 33 and 34.

For a complete understanding of the operation of my improved process and apparatus, it must be considered that, whensoftening reagents are added to a hard water, the resulting solid precipitates or flocs of hardness constituents are formed at different rates, velocities, and degrees of completeness. Some calcium carbonate llocs of fair size may appear after a few minutes, Whereas other solid particles of the same substance may appear onlyafter many hours. Also, some of said flocs, as originally formed may be large or heavy, whereas other solids of the same chemical composition, may be exceedingly small or light when originally formed. At every pointv of Aa liquid flow containing such precipitates in process ofl formation, treatment, or removal', there will be found some such precipitates which are relatively large, heavy, prematurely formed,

and readily settleable and others of intermediate size, Weight, and settling characteristics. There may be still others which are so light, small, or incomplete as to settle relatively slowly or not to settle at all. In connection with the latter group, there' may be mentioned those hardness constituents which are still present in a dissolved or similar state, which have not completed their chemical reaction with the softening,

precipitating, or coagulating reagents, or which have not completed the physical reaction of precipitation or Ilocculation incident to which they appear .for the first time as suspended, solid particles or ocs.

In' the early stages of this art, the water to be 'softened was treated and detained for several hours, in order'that even the last of the solid precipitates might have a chance to be formed and completed. The treatment was either intermittent or continuous. Lateron, attempts were made, both in intermittent and continuous` plants, to accelerate the process, especially by contacting the water and the relatively incomplete precipitates With a retained or recirculated sludge of previously formed, completed precipitates.

In accordance with a more recent method,

which is further improved hereby, theiwater and the relatively incomplete precipitates are continuously contacted with a retained sludge of previously formed precipitates of intermediate size and weight; the largest, heaviest, completed precipitates being removed by sedimentation, as soon as they have been formed. In this process, a liquid particle may pass through the tank in an averagep'eriod of one hour or less. During a iirst part of this period, ocs may be originally formed, by primary precipitation in the liquid particle. During the greatest part of this time the liquid particle, carrying a continuously decreasing amount of solids, percolates through the sludge blanket; Ithat is, through la retained mass of solids previously formed and being newly formed, agglomerated, 'and increased in size.-

A small solid particle originally formed in the primary flow may be present in this mass for many hours, or even days, during which time it generally increases in size due to agglomeration with other particles previously formed or being newly formed. The larger a particle becomes,

-the more it tends to subside in the mass or blanket of particles. Occasionally, particles will be partly broken up, when engaged by rapid portions of the spirally rotating now; whereupon they may tend to rise again.- The spirally rotatiner ilow of this invention, as stated before, is upwardly spaced and functionally separated from the quiescent sedimentation zone, and thus disturbance of the sedimentation zone is prevented. The particles are ultimately agglomerated into large, heavy, and well coagulated flocs, which are no longer readily subject either to disintegration or to growth under the conditions of the process.. These are no longer retained in the sludge blanket, but removed by sedimentation. As they settle throughthe sludge blanket and into the subjacent sediment zone they displace liquid upwardly. These downward and upward exchanges or movements are preferably allowed to occur throughout the whole area of the sludge blanket, or at least in substantial parts thereof, so as to facilitate and accelerate the gravitational separation of the large, heavy, and complete ocs from the sludge retained in the filter or blanket.

In order to start the operation I ll .the ltank I with water to the level of the overow weir I3.v

Thereafter, I continuously add water and chemicals through the inlet I3 and withdraw equal amounts of water through the effluent pipe 20.

In the beginning, the chemical treatment results in conditions which are none better than those obtained in earlier softening apparatus; and for this reason, the initial rate of iiow or throughput through the tank must be kept very slow, that is, ordinarily less than one gallon per square foot of 4tank area per minute. With higher initial ow rates, most of the ocs formed would be entrained and carried o utwith the water overflowing over the weir I8, and no sludge bed could be formed except after an excessively long period of initial treatment, covering many days. The desirable, slow, initial rate of ow may be en forced by proper adjustment of the inlet iloat valve 2l, which may be actuated by a oat @Il through a linkage 4I comprising a crank 42 which is angularly adjustable on the valve stem 43; or adjustment may be obtained in other suitable ways. 'Even with such slow rates of initial ilow, many of the fiocs initially formed are and remain so small that they are carried out over the weir I t. For this reason Vthe water discharged during initial operation is generally unsatisfactory for such use or consumption as may be contemplated for the` water when fully treated in accordance with this invention.

Ii'locs of calcium carbonate and the like will settle from the slow, initial flow, to the tank bottom M. Preferably, during initial operation,

` these flocs are not'removed through the sludge sump 26 and the pipe 21. 'Ihe scrapers 22 may` be kept at rest, or I may rotate them from time to time, at a very slow rate and for short periods only, so as to spread|` out the sludge over the whole of the tank bottom and to prevent the sludge from compacting too much. Gradually, the whole of the sediment zone 32 may be iilled with settled sludge.

As the operation continues the sludge sediment ket itself become larger and heavier. A further this initial filter cannot be expected to provide" complete treatment at a high flow rate. The ow rate may be raised gradually, and it must be anticipated that for a short time after each increase, the overflow will contain relatively more small fiocs again. 4

Gradually, however, the overflow will become clear, and' thereafter it will remain clear, even upon a further increase of the flow rate Within certain limits. This is due to the fact that the beneficial effects 'of theV sludge blanket start to play their part; and the ocs in the sludge blanincrease in the rate of throughput, as mentioned, becomes feasible; in fact, it is desirable, in order to keep a suflicient supply of ocs in suspension, and to prevent depletion of the sludge blanket.

Pursuant to this final increase of the throughput rate, the operation may be considered normal, andmay be continued indenitely. From this moment on, sludge must be withdrawn through the pipe 2l at substantially the same rate at which new sludge is deposited.

The sludge blanket in the filtration zone 30 according to the present invention contains only,

.or at least primarily, the sludge which fails to settle into the sediment zone 32; that is, the fiocs of small and medium size, which are readily subject to growth and agglomeration under the conditions of the process. The iiow conditions affecting and surrounding this improved sludge bed in normal operation, are diagrammatically shown in Figures 1 and 3. The now A which passes into and through the primary precipitation zone I2, enters the distribution zone 23, wherein it is continued by a horizontal, preferably spiral now B, bringing liquid and solids to all points below and in the sludge blanket. 'I 'he sludge blanket as a whole is more or less stationary in the superposed sludge filter zone 30. At all points of the distributing flow B, upward ows vC are branched off therefrom, which enter the superposed sludge lter for final treatment therein.

, to-this percolating flow, both precipitation and tends to be built up above the bottom zone 32,

into the distribution zone 28. From this moment on, the rate of flow is increased, by proper readlustments of valve'2l or of any other control means, so that the sludge present in the distribution zone 28 is largely re-suspended and the newly entering sludge is largely held in suspension, and parts thereof are carried into the superimposed zone l0, starting the formation of- `iiocculation are promoted and completed.

The largest precipitated and ilocculated particles contained inthe iiow B are constantly settled out, as shown'at D. Furthermore, the largest precipitated and flocculated particles formed in the sludgel filter zone 3D are constantly settled out as shown at E. Other flocs and particles tending to'turn into ilocs, are continuously resupplied to the sludge filter, bythe flow A from the primary precipitation zone I2. i They are uniformly distributed by the` flow B, ,without undue disturbance of the quiescent zone 32.

' the spiral flow zone 28.

Practically all the impurities contained in the liquid entering the sludge iilter are eiectively removed from the liquid in the sludge blanket, including eventhe smallest particles and the solids most diflcult to precipitate in settleable form. Such small particles and incomplete precipitates are agglomerated with and thus retained by the medium and small sized, suspended flocs forming the sludge filter. As a result, there is a continuous growth of the suspended flocs forming the sludge filter. The smallest and least complete ocs, originally entrained and introduced into the filter, disappear during this upward iiow,

broken up and resuspended by the spiral flow.

for awhile; but they ultimately settle further into the sediment zone 32, and are removed by the 'Scrapers 22, at H.

When reference is had to iiocs of certain sizes, of course it will be understood that generally speaking, the largest ocs are also the heaviest ones, and settle more rapidly, or overcome an upward liquid velocity more easily than other, smaller and lighter ocs. Other features than size and specific weightmayaifect the settleability of the fiocs also, but size is generally the i most important factor, so long as specic weight andstructure are uniform, as is well known to persons skilled in this art.

Attention isV directed to the fact that the ilow enters the bottom of the distribution zone 2s below the sludge iilter in an inward direction.

V Conventional, round settling or sludge filtration tanks are either built for outward or inward ow; always of course, with some vertical iiow components. Each type of tank has certain advantages. Perhaps it may be said that settlers for outward flow in many instances are` cheaper to construct, while settlers or sludge ltraton tanks with inward flow are more eflicient, especially where the initial fiowpasses downwardly through a peripheral zone around the ultimate settling zone.v The present tank is not a conventional settler or sludge ltration tank, but a tank for concurrent sludge filtration and sedimentation. In such a tank for concurrent treatments in a single, liquid holding zone, it is particularly important to'make the operation as smooth and efficient as possible. Therefore it is greatly preferred to have an inward iiow into the central zone, preceded by said downward primary flow.

Reviewing once more the arrangement of the several zones, according to Figure 3, I provide four zones superposed over one another. These zones may be identified as follows, starting at the tank bottom: first, the sediment zone or bottom zone 32; second, the distribution or spiral iiow zone 23 separated from the sediment zone by the bafiles 33, 34; third, the sludge filter or` sludge blanket zone 30; and fourth, the zone of treated and clarified water Yadjacent to the launder i9. The primary zone I 2 may be viewed as part of It will be understood that the said zones merge into one another unobstructedly, except as stated. Necessary steps of the precipitating and coagulating treatment occur in each of the zones, except thesediment zone 32 and the clear water zone. It may be said that precipitation and coagulation starts in the primary zone I2, continues in the distribution zone 28, and is completed in the sludge filter zone 30. It` may also be said that a suspended sludge filter or blanket is present below and partly around the zone 30 as well as within the same. It has been shown how this sludge filter is initially built up from the bottom,of the tank where it merges into a layer of sediment.

. In earlier constructions, tanks somewhat similar to those of Figures 1 and 2 were proposed or used. In some instances, these were designed to be operated as simple settling tanks, requiring several hours to discharge a soft and clear water. These have veryflittle to do with the present invention, wherein part of the sludge is kept in suspension, to `provide sludge ltration and accelerated treatment. In tanks of the sludge suspending type, which were proposed heretofore and which are relatively similar to the present tank, a solid tray was provided, instead of the open or partially open .zone below the sludge lter zone 30 as herein proposed. The solid tray of such an earlier tank was designed to separate an upper sludge filter-zone from a lower zone for spent and settled sludge, with an extra set of sludge impelling members operating over the said tray. The present construction abolishes said solid tray, or at least thelsubstance of it.

The present construction has a number of ada quiescent, settled layer of sediment or spent sludge in the lower part, a suspended bed of active sludge in a higher part, and a zone of distribution and exchange between said parts. The sedimentatonof the sludge and the release of supernatant liquid from the sediment orspent sludge is facilitated. The operation is simple and safe as soon as the initial steps have been performed whereas the said solid tray with Scrapers operating thereover involved complicated and problematic ow conditions, with sludge discharge countercurrent to the liquid flow, and the like.

In certain other types of earlier apparatus, the whole of the iiocs including the largest ones, and

sometimes even grit or the like; were kept suspended; or at least nothing was done, short of pretreatment in a separate tank having an extra system of solids removing mechanism, to promote the segregation of the heaviest ilocs from the material to be subjected to sludge filtration. Poor or fluctuating results were derived from operation where the Iiocculent material in the sludge llter was mixed with those heavy substances.

Aside from other objections, great liquid velocities were required to suspend the heavy material, and such velocities tended to entrain ocs of small and even intermediate size, instead of merely suspending them. The situation was aggravated by' tation and `purification is generally obtained where all of the contact material consists oi ilocsI which are readily subject to further growth under the conditions of theprocess. This is the case in the treatment herein proposed. Furthermore,

' all methods of sludge treatment and removal,

eliminating' the sludge scrapers, were found to be limited inapplication, hard of operation, and unreliable in performance. For these reasons I provide a sludge scraping device,iwhich ismuch simpler, cheaper, andrbetter, and which in and by itself is a perfectly conventional element.

In'order to keep flocculent particles distributed and suspended in the sludge iilter and throughoutthe same I may either rely exclusively on the velocity of the water being treatedas in the embodiment so far described; or I may promote the distribution and suspension of particles in and throughout `the sludge iilter by a closed circulation superimposedon the throughput-flow or supplementing the same, at the same time however retaining the other zones as heretofore described, except possibly for minor modifications. A tank equipped for such circulation is shown in Figure t. Here influent enters a primary peripheral channel 1I, through a tangential opening 12 cf the inletconduit 13. The whole of thefiow spirals downin the peripheral channel 1I and is inwardly deected, above the tank bottom 14, by the baille 15, which is similar in design and function to the baille 33 as above described. Additional baiiies 34 may be provided also.

A flow of Water and small solids turns upward into the'zone 16 for sludge ltration, towards the overflow 11, launder 18 and eflluent conduit 19. The treatment in this zone is lthe same as above described.

In order to prevent short circuiting and insuilicient treatment of this upward flow, I distribute the same as well as possible. I also provide so that I may maintain a distributing ow, and prevent eomplete sedimentation of the sludge filter, regardless of decreasing rates of throughput, or temporary periods during which the throughput dow ceases altogether. Thus I need not go through all of the initial stepsV on resuming the normal flow again. For these` purposes, a part of the water and solid materials is withdrawn in or adjacent the center of the tank, by airliit means or the like, generally designated by the numeral 8l). i

The air lift means comprises a stationary vertical tube 8| in the center of the tank, a tube 82 having telescopicengagement with the tube 9| and being vertically adjustable with respect to it, and feeding and distributing means 83 for compressed air within the tube assembly. The adjustable tube 82 has intake openings 84 at its lower end. Otherwise, the tube assembly is substantlally closed to the liquid in the sludge filtration zone 16. It may be open to the atmosphere above the liquid level established by the overflow 11 and the air lift means. v

The air lift tube assembly. is adapted to return a flow to the primary zone 1l by flow passages 65. These passages have tangential outlets 86 in the primary zone, discharging in the same direction as the hard water inlet 12. i A shaft 81 extends through the air lift tube assembly in the center of the tank 'and carries scrapers 8,8, for removing grit, `oc conglomerates and thelike from the tank bottom 14 into a' cen-t tral vsump 89 for iinal ,disposal through the pipe 90. Vertical stillingbafes 9| inthe sludgeill-ter zone 16 may extend inwardly from the cylindrical partition wall 92 r which separatesthe` primary compartment 1I from the final sludge lter compartment 16; They may also cooperate to support the air lift tube 8|.

t It will be appreciated that under some conditions, the inlet openings 84 `ofthe `air lift tube must bepositioned ata higher or lower point than in other cases, for best results inthe process,

which provides.. prompt sedimentation of the heavy solids, undisturbed conditions in the sediment zone below the baille 15, and sludge ltration of the other material. in the inner zone 16.

.An intermediate position is shown in full lines,

while higher and` lower positions are indicated by dotted lines. The lower position as indicated would bling the air lift inlet into or toward the sediment zone, whenever that may be desired for recirculation of a very concentrated contact material. If a relatively great amount of air is used, with the air lift in this low position, central parts of the tanklbottom may be swept clean of sediment by the circulating iiow. However, this will be an exception rather than the rule in the operation of this device. A

A final modification is shown by Figure 5 which in general provides similar parts and operation as Figure 4 does, but wherein inlet openings 93 of the air lift tube `94 are provided in superposed rows, causing a particularly Agood diiusion and distribution of the circulating lowbelow or through the sludge iilter, whereby higher rates of circulation may be provided without undue disturbance of the sludgewbed. An adjustment similar to that of Figure 4- may be provided by slidalble ring members 95. These ring members are concentric with the air lift tu'be Bld, they may restrict or close some of the ,superposed openings 93, depending on their -vertical adjustment, and they may be vertically adjustable individually or conjointly.

In operating either of the tanks ofvFigures 4 and 5, I build up a bed of sludge, grit, or the like from the bottom of the tank, I keep the heavy, spent sludge settled in the sediment zone, and I provide rapid sludge filtration through the i'locs which are retained and suspended thereabove.

This suspended sludge bed is protected from undue disturbance by the inwardly spiralling iiow, previously explained. The depth and condition of the sludge bed are quite easy and simple to control, by proper adjustment of throughput flow, speed of sludge removal, and kind of circulation. The circulation can be adjusted as to its velocity, by adjustment of air feed. For this purpose, a valve 96- may be interposed on the air supply pipe 83. The circulation can be adjusted` also as to the elevation nof the zone through which the most critical part of the cir-l culating flow passes, by vertical adjustment of the tube 82 or control member 95. For this lastnentioned purpose, I provide rods 91 attached to such members 82 or 95, and which rods can be raised or lowered at will, by suitable operating means (not shown). These adjustments in turn alect the character of the solids contained in the circulating iiow and passing into the sludge blanket.

Various modications other than those specically shown and described will suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art, upon a study and consideration of thisl disclosure. It will be understood that the dimensions, ow velocities, and similar data specified herein are stated only for illustration, and are not intended to limit this invention.`

I claim:

1. Apparatus for liquid treatment comprising a tank, a peripheral wall of said tank, an annular vertical baille concentric with said wall and extending from a point adjacent to the top of said tank to a point above the bottom of said tank, inletmeans adapted to discharge liquid to be treated into an upper part of the space formed between said peripheral walll and said annular vertical baille, liquid outlet means adjacent to the -top of said tank in the spme inside said annular vertical baffle, sludge outlet means in said tank, rotary sludge conveying means in said tank adapted to move over said bottom and to convey sludge towards said sludge outlet means, a motor for said sludge conveying means, and a substantially annular baille installed above the bottom of the tank, extending inwards from the peripheral wall of the tank -to points below the lower edge of said annular vertical baille, and allowing vertical communication between the spaces above and |below said inwardly extending baille surrounded by said annular vertical baille.

, 2. Apparatus according-to claim 1 comprising bailies supported by said rotary sludge conveying means in line with said inwardly extending baille.

3. Apparatus for liquid treatment comprising a tank, a peripheral walll of s'aid tank, an annular, vertical baille concentric with said wall and extending irom a point adjacent to the top of said tank to a point spaced from and adjacent to the bottom of said tank, thereby forming a primary gamut 'treatment chamber outside of said bame and a sludge ltration chamber inside said baille, inlet means adapted to discharge liquid to .'be treated stalled above the bottom of the tank, extending inwards from the peripheral wall of the tank to p oints in o, plane'below the lower edge of said annular vertical baille, and allowing vertical communication between the spaces above and below said inwardly extending baille.

4. Apparatus for liquid treatment comprisingV a tank, o, peripheral wall of said tank, an annular, vertical baille concentric with said wall and extending from a point adjacent to the top of said tank to a point albove the bottom of said tank, thereby forming a. primary treatment chamber outside of said baille, and a sludge filtration chamber inside said baille, inlet means adapted to discharge liquid to be treated into said'tank remotely from said sludge filtration chamber, liquid outlet means adjacent to the topv of said tank, in said sludge filtration chamber, sludge outlet means in said tank, spaced below said liquid outlet means, rotary sludge conveyor means in said tank adapted' to move over said bottom and to convey sludge towards said sludge outletv means, a, motor for said sludge conveyor means, additional baille means supported by said rotary sludge conveyor means, extending in planes substantially parallel to the bottom of the tional bale means. l

JOHN J f. FELSECKER. 

